Japanese Cherry Blossom Time

"Cherry blossoms bloom in spring, and are gone in a few days. People saw that their lives were like the cherry blossoms. The time is passing with falling cherry blossoms. People watched falling cherry blossoms with a sense of mortality.
The cherry blossom holds a popular place in Japan. People journey to find beauty; the symbol is sakura. People look for something deep in the sakura. Sakura became a symbol of the Japanese mind. The falling of cherry blossoms was used to represent the Japanese Samurai spirit. After the Edo period, the Japanese people loved to view cherry blossoms on their holidays. This is the basis of the Japanese concept of cherry blossoms in Haiku. Haiku is a search for the beauty, falling, purity and spirit of cherry blossoms' inner part."

"Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousands winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autum's rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there, I did not die."

Photography by Adela Stefanov , Maiko by ONIHIDE_ © All rights reserved

 GATE, GATE, PARAGATÉ,

PARASAMGATÉ, BODHI SVAHA

"Do not live in the world,
In distraction and false dreams.
Outside the dharma.
Arise and watch.
Follow the way joyfully
Through this world and beyond.
Follow the way of virtue.
Follow the way joyfully
Through this world and on beyond!
For consider the world -
A bubble, a mirage.
See the world as it is,
And death shall overlook you.
Come, consider the world,
A painted chariot for kings,
A trap for fools.
But he who sees goes free.
As the moon slips from behind a cloud
And shines,
So the master comes out from behind
his ignorance
And shines."